Early morning scare

Well my girlfriend just got home from work and told me that this morning on her way in to work, at 545 am on friendship ave just before the park, a shady looking guy that was up ahead started to watch her and moved out to the road. It looked like he was gonna jump out in front of her. As she got closer he started moving faster. She then stepped on it and went over to the other side of the road as she passed him, not giving him a chance to grab at her. She says she is positive that he was trying to jump her and was pretty scared. Tomorrow she plans on going in a different route.

So does anyone know where I can get some handlebar mounted mace? I am also interested in hearing what people think about shutting off your lights while riding in the early morning hours on quiet roads

Willie I’m glad you’re GF is ok. I think what she did -paying attention to your surroundings- is the first line of defense, and good for her to recognize a threat way in advance. I’m not real confident of pepper sprays because you must get it in the perps face for it to be effective. The time taken to get the spray out and pointed in the right direction could be better spent trying to get away from the threat.

I would also suggest having her file a police report. I know it seams pointless, but if you don’t let them know there is a problem how are they suppose to fix it?

I have a little can of it that I keep in my car. It’s the size of a bic lighter. It comes in a little holster that I think has a clip on device. Otherwise, I was thinking I could run a piece of velcro through the holster, or just around the whole can, and stick it to just about anything. I don’t know how it would hold up over potholes and other rough terrain, however, which is why I was thinking it would be better to keep it on my body, rather than on the bike. Less chance of leaving it on the bike when I parked it, too.

I’ve heard a can of wasp spray has a farther reach than Mace (and is legal in some places mace may not be). I’ve never used any, and don’t ever plan on it.

When I’m headed through any places where I visibly have more assets/resources than the bulk of the population that lives there, I turn off my headlights, but leave my rear lights on (do NOT want to get rearended, and I figure I can outpace anybody on foot). I cruise slow enough to hear cars and people (rather than just the wind rushing gloriously in my ears), and I keep an eye out. Those times of day in those places, if there are no cars, I don’t wait out red lights, and I avoid streets with bike lanes/sharrows.

Happily, I’ve never been in your GF’s situation. But sometimes I’ve taken roads where I’m more likely to get hit rather than take roads where I’m more likely to get jumped. I hate that choice.

Make sure she files a police report, if nothing else it’s probably harassment. At least telling the cops it’s going on gives it visibility it doesn’t have just reporting to the board.

I’m sorry that happened to her: very scary. I’ve known people who’ve carried red pepper spray on their keychains (including me in the past). But the one time a friend actually had to use it, it made the situation worse. It got all over her *and the attacker, and only angered him and escalated a basic purse snatching into a more violent situation. (this was not in Pittsburgh) I don’t have any direct experience with the stuff, but I think it would be important to get tips on how to actually use it ‘else it is pretty easy to deploy against oneself, depending on wind direction &tc.

I carry a really loud whistle (NFL referee-style) in the hopes of attracting more attention, but I’ve never had to use it.

I hope your girlfriend files a report ’cause that can lead to increased patrols in the area.

Mace is definitely a good idea, probably the best balance of several compromises between size, nonlethality, no big deal if used against you, and cost. Just be savvy to windspeed and direction! I’m interested in getting a helmet camera for this and related type encounters too. Anyone have one they recommend?

I debate packing something heavier, as when touring through the southwest bear country, but the likely scenarios in the city are stacked against the cyclist. If you have the time to get it out, you probably could get away.

LIke concern that has been expressed above, you have to be very careful in using mace or pepper spray while moving because of blowback, etc. I would suggest looking for a variety for pepper spray that uses more of a stream or perhaps some of the foam based ones.

If you have the time to spray at something other than a dog while riding by them on a bicycle, you almost certainly have the time to change direction like Willie’s GF. If you are really faced with the reality of fighting back, get off your bike before you get knocked off and can’t fight. Not to mention the possibility of being arrested for a drive-by spraying. This world is brutal sometimes.

Yeah after yesterday morning then the encounter we had with some teenage kids that stole one of my friends helmets yesterday afternoon she is pretty scared. She went down liberty to penn instead today. Also she rode with her ulock in hand.

i would if you want to mount it to your bike (or have it in general), i would probably suggest pepper spray foam. then you won’t have any blowing back at you. plus foam will usually expand so i would think it would cover the attacker better. amazon has a lot: